Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Company
go to end;go to Table of Contents / 33. She Stoops To Conquer / 34. Ask Me If You Wish / 35. Procrastination / 36. We Will Never Be Rich / 37. Autumn
pattern: (in order) to expressing purpose.
note: In speech, we do not usually say "in order"; it is ellipted.
text:Dear Kitty,
[1] I need you around (in order) to advise me. [2] A certain girl wants my help (in order) to catch a man, but I don't understand woman's business. [3] She thinks that all the usual tricks haven't worked on him. [4] You know what I mean: the lingering glances, the little plans (in order) to be alone with him, and so on. [5] She wants me to invite him to a meeting (in order) to give him a big surprise. [6] He thinks she is a dumb brunette, but she is going to give a witty speech (in order) to win kudos. [7] Then she can make him grovel. [8] You will know this old game plan: it is called "she stoops (in order) to conquer". [9] Personally, I have my doubts about the scheme. [10] I'm attracted to bright women myself, but her bloke is a yob, and will run a mile.
All the best,
Panda
response:
1. Finish this sentence in two different ways: I need you around (in order) to ....
2. Why does the girl want Panda's help?
3. What does Panda feel about woman's business?
4. What are some tricks that women use to attract men?
5. How is Panda supposed to help the girl?
6. Why is the girl going to give a witty speech?
7. A girl on a pedestal can stoop to conquer. What does this mean?
8. What does Panda think will happen when the girl gives her witty speech?
9. Why does Panda predict a failure for the girl?
pattern: ask what; ask when; ask whether; ask if
text:Dear Kitty,
[1] You asked me whether I knew of a cheap place to store your furniture. [2] I am tempted to ask what you are up to, but I suppose it is none of my business. [3] Anyway, I'm an expert on where to keep junk that you don't need for the time being! [4] For years I have been asking my mother whether I can leave this or that at her place. [5] That is what mothers are for! [6] But then she asked if she could throw out all those forgotten memories. [6] I was horrified, and asked whether I could build a storage shed in her back yard. [7] Sometimes there is no mother to ask for help. [8]In New Zealand I advertised once for an empty garage. [9] Quite a few people offered to store my stuff for a low rent. [10] Good luck and happy hunting.
Love,
Panda
response:
1. What does Kitty want to know?
2. How do you know that Panda is curious about Kitty's problem?
3. Make a question using the words: what / expert
4. What does Panda often ask his mother?
5. Add a beginning to this sentence: ...... what mothers are for.
6. Finish this sentence: She asked if she could ....
7. Why did Panda want to build a shed in his mother's back yard?
8. How did Panda solve his storage problems in New Zealand?
Grammar note
a) WH- questions
Words like what and when can be used to ask questions directly. As WH-question words they come at the beginning of the sentence and are usually followed by modal auxiliary verbs (BE, HAVE, DO, can, could, will, would etc.). For example:
WHAT doauxiliary + [you know about Australia]?
b) WH- subordinate clauses
WH- words can also be used to talk about questions that somebody asked before. That is, WH- words are used in reported speech. These WH- words have a different grammar from WH- questions. They do not attach to modal auxiliary verbs. They head subordinate clauses, and usually follow matrix clauses containing verbs like ask or tell:
[He told us]matrix clause + [what we wanted to know]subordinate clause
pattern: never; often; always; generally; usually; sometimes; occasionally
text:
Dear Kitty,
[1] Doesn't time fly! [2] I always start the weekend with the best of intentions, but somehow most things never get done. [3] I generally have a list of chores like cleaning the bath or fixing my shoes. [4] Alas, by Sunday night they usually have to be put off until next weekend. [5] Sometimes this sort of thing goes on for months. [6] At last, after procrastinating for nine months, I finally got around to reconciling my bank statements on Saturday. [7] I always hate checking things like bank statements because I generally wind up having less money than I thought I had. [8] Somehow the bank never loses out because the mistakes are always mine. [9] Occasionally the list of chores all gets done by accident, and I can be lazy with a clear conscience. [10] What sorts of things do you put off doing as long as possible?
Love,
Panda
response:
1. Try to think of some expressions about time.
For example: I didn't notice the time; Time got away from us; There's never enough time; How do you find the time!?; We had the time of our lives
2. When did you last start something with the best of intentions, but fail to get it done?
3. What are a list of chores around your house?
4. Make a question using these words: what / put off / next weekend
5. What goes on for months in Panda's house?
6. How long did it take Panda to get around to reconciling his bank statements?
7. Why does Panda hate checking his bank statements?
8. Why does the bank never lose out?
9. Change the following sentence to active voice: The list of chores gets done (by me) by accident.
10. What sort of things do you put off as long as possible?
keywords: (One keyword is taken from each sentence. Use the keywords as cues to re-tell the text)
[1] fly; [2] intentions; [3] chores; [4] put off; [5] months; [6] procrastinating; [7] checking; [8] loses out; [9] gets done; [10] put off
pattern: will never be; would generally be
text:Dear Kitty,
[1] Maybe we will never be rich, but we will have rich memories. [2] You know, my mum would often scold my father because he would generally be down at the pub with his mates by six p.m.. [3] But he would usually be full of stories when he came rolling home couple of hours later. [4] We kids would sit up waiting for the latest episode on Mugger, the boss, or Nick, the one-eyed Greek. [5] The characters in my father's life would always be larger than life, and somehow he would always be the "hero". [6] You could say dad was a loser, I suppose, but he could always see laughter and tragedy in ordinary lives. [7] That was a gift. [8] The bean counters will always be masters of the universe, but it is cold out there in space. [9] The losers in the rat race, like dad, will always be the keepers of friendship and a helping hand.
Love,
Panda
response:
1. Complete the following sentence: I will never be ....., but I will be
2. Why would Panda's mum scold his dad?
3. What did Panda's dad usually bring home from the pub?
4. Why would the kids sit up waiting for dad?
5. Who have you heard of or met who was larger than life?
6. Why could Panda forgive his dad for being a loser?
7. What is a gift of character that you value?
8. What does Panda mean when he says that the bean counters will always be masters of the universe?
9. Why do you think losers might be ready to help other people?
10. Make a question using the words: Do / know / losers / rat race
keywords
[1] rich; [2] scold; [3] stories; [4] waiting; [5] characters; [6] loser; [7] gift; [8] bean counters; [9] rat race
pattern: there is an X [existential]; it is Y
text:
Dear Kitty,
[1] There is a nip in the air this morning. [2] Soon it will be time to rug up with gloves and a warm coat. [3] It can be miserable around here in winter, but for the moment there are lots of warm, sunny days. [4] It is nice to wander through Fitzroy or Carlton in the evenings where people dine al fresco from cafe tables on the pavement. [5] There are lots of deciduous trees here, so soon there will also be shoals of crackling leaves underfoot. [6] You see, Melbourne was built like a north European city with tree-line boulevards and respectable Victorian building facades.[7] There has always been lots of hanky-panky going on behind the facades of course. [8] Nowadays people are less inhibited than their grandfathers. [9] There is less worrying about what the neighbours think. [10] Some people even have street parties to really enjoy the long autumn evenings.
Love,
Panda
_________________________________________________
response:
1. What time of the year is Panda writing about?
2. Finish this sentence with two different endings from your own life: Soon it will be time to ...
3. Use these words to make two statements about the story: there; lots of
4. Why does Panda think Melbourne is pleasant in autumn?
5. What happens to deciduous trees in winter?
6. How does Melbourne resemble a European city?
7. The culture and customs of Melbourne have changed over two generations. How?
8. Describe your own home town or city in autumn.
Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Company
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